Title: Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles Number 11)
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Published: 1 January 2015
Publisher: Transworld Digital and Bantam Press
Synopsis
‘With DIE AGAIN Tess Gerritsen proves that she is still at the top of her game. I love this fantastically gripping story and can’t wait for more’ KARIN SLAUGHTER
THE VICTIMS
In Boston, Detective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles are investigating a bizarre murder. A man has been found gutted and hanging in his home. When the remains of another victim are found, it is clear that this murderer has been at work for years, and not just in Boston.
THE KILLER
Six years ago, a group of travellers set off on an African safari. None of them are seen again – apart from one woman who stumbled out of the bush weeks later, barely alive. The only woman to have seen the killer’s face.
THE SURVIVOR
Has the ‘safari killer’ resurfaced in Boston? Jane is sent to Africa to find the one link between the two cases – the only survivor – and convince her to face death once again…
Review
Die Again is the 11th book in the Rizzoli and Isles series. Whilst reading the earlier books will provide you with some useful background into Jane and Maura’s relationship, this is a standalone book and can be easily enjoyed by the reader without any knowledge of the earlier books. The book does contain some references to past cases and events, which may not make sense unless you have read the earlier books, however the way it is written stops the reader from feeling as though they have missed anything if not familiar with the earlier books.
I have read a number of books in this particular series and the main characters are very well drawn. Both Jane and Maura are very strong and individual characters, complimenting each other’s strengths and proving to be an intimidating team. By way of warning, if you are not familiar with the earlier stories but have watched the TV series, you may find the relationship between the two main characters to have a slightly different dynamic to what you may expect.
There are some good supporting characters, including Detective Frost, the safari survivor Molly, the safari guide Johnny Posthumous and Jane’s mother, Angela. All characters are well described and believable. I particularly felt for Angela in relation to a side-storyline. I will need to read the next book to see how that particular story develops.
As we join the book, there are two storylines being told, one being a group of people on safari in Botswana and the other being the murder of a taxidermist in Boston. The reader is not immediately told how the stories relate however as the book progresses, the link between the two storylines gradually becomes clear in a clever tale full of twists and turns, mystery and intrigue. I really enjoyed the way in which the two stories are brought together.
There are also a couple of well-placed light-hearted moments to relieve the tension, mainly involving the two cats belonging to the murder victim.
I really enjoy Gerritsen’s style of writing. This was a polished and slick story, a real page-turner. Whilst the storyline itself is great, the writing really turns the book into a gripping and tense thriller. Gerritsen writes with a descriptive style which draws the reader into the book and lets you experience the story alongside characters, understanding their thoughts and emotions rather than merely being told what they are feeling. Die Again was one of those books that made me want to keep reading. I think I finished it within 4 sittings.
Tess Gerritson certainly knows had to write a great thriller and Die Again definitely met my expectations.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The book is released in both hard copy and electronic format, the latter being available for £3.29 on AmazonUK.
About the Author
Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen is also a physician, and she brings to her novels her first-hand knowledge of emergency and autopsy rooms. But her interests span far more than medical topics. As an anthropology student at Stanford University, she catalogued centuries-old human remains, and she continues to travel the world driven by her fascination with ancient cultures and bizarre natural phenomena. She started off her writing career with romance novels, now published by Mira. But in 1996 she switched to writing thrillers with her novel HARVEST, inspired by the anger she felt about the illegal trade in human organs. It was her first New York Times bestseller. Since then she has become an internationally bestselling author of crime novels, and her thriller series starring Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles is the basis for the hit television series “Rizzoli & isles.” She lives with her husband in Maine. For more information on Tess Gerritsen and her novels, visit her website: www.tessgerritsen.co.uk.
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